Hon Phil Goff
Minister of Defence

28 July 2006
Media statement

Goff Appoints Territorial Employer Support Committee

Defence Minister Phil Goff today announced the appointment of nine New Zealanders to be inaugural members of the Territorial Forces Employer Support Committee.

"The committee was established by the Volunteers Employment Protection Act 2004 and aims to increase the effectiveness of New Zealand's territorial military forces by gaining and enhancing the support of employers.

"The committee will consist of a Chair, six regional chairs, a trade union representative, an employer representative, an education / training representative, a local government agency representative and the Director General of Reserve Forces.

"Territorial military personnel work as part time members of the armed forces in addition to holding down full time jobs, other part time jobs or studying. The employer support committee will play a key role in educating employers about the benefits of part time military service to individuals and in turn to employers and also act as a valuable communications channel between employers organisations, communities and the military", said Mr Goff

The following were today appointed to the committee:

- David McGregor as a representative of the Auckland region;
- Ted Dean as a representative of the Waikato / Tauranga region;
- Mary Bourke as a representative of the Manawatu / Taranaki / Kapiti region;
- Raymond Lind as a representative of the Wellington / Hawkes Bay region;
- Sandra Manderson as a representative of the Christchurch / Upper South Island region;
- Julian Smith as a representative of the Otago / Southland region;
- Rodger Kerr-Newell as a representative of Business New Zealand;
- Lindsay Taiaroa as a representative of the Vice Chancellors association;
- Tim Brewer as the Director General of Reserve Forces

John Allen was appointed to the position of Chair of the Territorial Forces Employer Support Council in August 2005. Local Government and trade union representatives will be added to the committee in the near future.

Biographical details of the individuals appointed are appended to this release.

Territorial Forces Employer Support Committee

David McGregor OBE ED is a senior partner in Bell Gully, a nation-wide legal firm and is very well connected to the Auckland business community through his client base. Many of his clients are local and regional government agencies. Mr McGregor is an ex-Territorial Force Brigadier.

Ted Dean ONZM is the Manager, Financial Operations at the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) in Rotorua. Mr Dean is a retired Territorial Force Brigadier and is well known in the area. MSD will be a key contact for the TFESC.

Mary Bourke was recently re-elected as Mayor of the Hawera District. She is popular and energetic, and has a high community profile. She is in favour of community involvement with the armed forces.

Ray Lind is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Information Officer of the Hawkes Bay District Health Board. He has also been Executive Officer of the Wellington City Council, General Manager of Special Projects at the New Zealand Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and was the owner/managing director of Ray Lind Consulting Ltd. Mr Lind served as a Captain in the Regular Force of the New Zealand Army in the 1990's.

Sandra Manderson QSM is District Commander, Canterbury Police, and Member of the Canterbury University Council. Sandra was contingent commander for Operation Phuket following the Tsunami, and has represented New Zealand in the Commonwealth Games.

Julian Smith is the CEO of Allied Press, which owns the Otago Daily Times and Channel Nine, a local television channel. He is currently the Honorary Colonel of the Otago and Southland Regiment. Mr Smith is a strong supporter of the armed forces.

Rodger Kerr-Newell is currently the Chief Executive of the New Plymouth District Council, Chief Executive of Taranaki Investment Managers Ltd, Deputy Chair of Business New Zealand and Chair of the Employers and Manufacturing Association.

Lindsay Taiaroa is currently the Executive Director of the New Zealand Vice Chancellors’ Committee. Mr Taiaroa has extensive networks throughout the secondary and tertiary education sector. He is the Secretary of the New Zealand Universities Superannuation Scheme and a member of the Tertiary and Joint Consultative Groups, Inter-institutional Quality Assurance Consultative Group and the Wellington Education Board.

Brigadier Tim Brewer ONZM ED is the senior Territorial Forces officer in the New Zealand Defence Force. In civilian life he is a partner in a New Plymouth law firm and the Crown Solicitor for New Plymouth.

ENDS

© Scoop Media